president obama? >> we feel confident we have the votes to win. >> mitt romney. >> this is a big day for big change. >> the world is watching and waiting. this is the news edge you decide 2012, our live coverage starts now. thanks for joining us tonight on the special edition of the news edge. the polls will close in 30 minutes in virginia, maryland, and d.c. at 8:00 p.m. we'll go live to polling places in just a moment. first, the race for the white house. tom fitzgerald has been tracking the candidates and joins us live. tom? >> reporter: today was a day on, not a day off for mitt romney as the republican ticket continued to campaign in the battlegrounds of ohio and neighboring states. president obama concluded his last campaign event last night, what was back out making phone calls and meeting with volunteers as is an election headquarters today. we begin this election night in chicago illinois, where president obama arrived last night and today made a surprise appearance at a hyde park field offic